"My letter was only the dry, formal announcement that you were promoted to the new ship, and I was to take over the Parakeet."
"They don't waste their typewriter in the office. I suppose they thought I'd hand on my letter if I saw fit. Read through that," said Kettle, and handed across his news. This is how it ran:--
BIRD, BIRD & CO.,
Ship and Insurance Brokers,
Agents to the Bird
Transport Company.
Managers of the
Bird Steam Company.
759, Euston Street,
LIVERPOOL,
21st March, 1896.
The superb vessels of the Bird Line!"
Swan 375 tons. Captain R. Evans. Sparrow 461 tons. Captain James Evans. s.s. Starling 880 tons. Captain Enoch Shaw. s.s. Parakeet 2,100 tons. Captain Murray. s.s. Building 3,500 tons. Captain O. Kettle. s.s. Building 3,500 tons. Captain ... s.s. Building 4,000 tons. Captain ...
| Swan | 375 tons. | Captain R. Evans. |
| Sparrow | 461 tons. | Captain James Evans. |
| s.s. Starling | 880 tons. | Captain Enoch Shaw. |
| s.s. Parakeet | 2,100 tons. | Captain Murray. |
| s.s. Building | 3,500 tons. | Captain O. Kettle. |
| s.s. Building | 3,500 tons. | Captain ... |
| s.s. Building | 4,000 tons. | Captain ... |
Dear Captain Kettle,--
Having noted from your cables and reports you
are making a good thing for us out of tramping
the "Parakeet," we have pleasure in transferring
you to our new boat, which is now building on the
Clyde. She will be 3,500 tons, and we may take
out passenger certificate, she being constructed on
that specification. Your pay will be £21 (twenty-one
pound) per month, with 2-1/2 per cent. commission
as before. But for the present, till this new
boat is finished, we want you to give over command
of the "Parakeet" to Murray, and take on a
new job. Our Mr. Alexander Bird has recently bought
the wreck of the s.s. "Grecian," and we are sending
out a steamer with divers and full equipment to get
the salvage. We wish you to go on board this vessel
to watch over our interests. We give you full
control, and have notified Captain Tazzuchi, at
present in command, to this effect.
Yours truly,
p.p. Bird, Bird and Co.
(Isaac Bird.)
To Captain O. Kettle,
s.s. "Parakeet," Bird Line, Aden.
"I see they have clapped me down on the bill heading for the Parakeet already," said Murray, "and you're shifted along in print for the new ship. Birds are getting on. But I've big doubts about three new boats all at one bite. One they might manage on a mortgage. But three? I don't think it. Old Ikey's too cautious."